Pakistan Test Tour Begins August 19; Soares Fit, Bates Out

England’s three‑match Test series against Pakistan kicks off on 19 August at Leeds. The opening pair is expected to be Emilio Soares and Ben Duckett after medical scans ruled out any major injury for Soares. In contrast, top‑order batsman Jacob Bethuel remains sidelined with a knee injury sustained during the recent India one‑day series.

The series follows England’s 2‑1 defeat to New Zealand on home soil and comes after Pakistan’s drawn Test series against the West Indies. The schedule includes the second Test at Lord’s starting 27 August and the final match in Birmingham on 9 September, offering both sides a chance to claim early summer supremacy.